Phone Scammer Posing As Deputy Tricks Local Man

SMITHFIELD — A Smithfield man lost nearly $5,000 after falling victim to a jury duty scam in which a caller impersonated a Johnston County sheriff’s deputy and demanded payment to avoid arrest, according to a report filed with local authorities.

The 53-year-old victim told investigators he received a phone call from a blocked number on Jan. 30. The caller claimed he had missed jury duty in Johnston County court and said citations and arrest warrants had been issued against him.

Shortly afterward, the victim received a second call from a phone number that appeared to originate from the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office in Smithfield. Authorities say scammers frequently spoof caller ID numbers to make fraudulent calls appear legitimate.

Believing the claims were real, the victim followed instructions to withdraw cash from his bank account and deposit $4,900 into a local Bitcoin machine, after being told the charges would be retracted once payment was made.

The victim described the caller as aggressive and persistent, saying the conversation lasted more than 30 minutes.

After the money was deposited, the impersonator demanded additional funds. At that point, the victim realized he was being scammed and ended the call.

Law enforcement officials warn that jury duty scams are a recurring problem in Johnston County and across the nation, with multiple residents losing thousands of dollars in similar schemes.

Authorities say the scammers often use the names of real officers and spoofed phone numbers to create urgency and credibility. In some cases, victims have lost anywhere from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands after being convinced immediate payment was required to avoid jail.

Officials emphasize that legitimate law enforcement agencies and courts will never demand payment over the phone, request cryptocurrency or gift cards, or threaten immediate arrest if money is not sent.